Time controlled switch



June9i 1931. E. E. STONE TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed May 9. 1930 Patented June 9, 1931 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Application led May 9,

This invention relates to time controlled electric switches and has for an ob]ect to provide for a simple switch mechanism which can be readily attached to and be ac- 'ist tuated by any of a very considerable number of makes of alarm clocks without makin any alteration in the clock. A further obJect is to provide such a switch which can either make or break an electric circuit at any desired time.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective showing the rear portion of an alarm clock having the switch attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective of an attaching bracket.

Figure 3 is a section on line of Figure 5 showing the switch adjusted to close a circuit at a predetermined time.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the switch adjusted to break the circuit at a predetermined time.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the switch showing the clock in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, at 1 is show an alarm clock having an alarm winding stem 2 and a clock setting stem 3 of the usual construction. The switch comprises a casing such as 4 having journaled therein a shaft 5 which may be coupled to the alarm winding stem as by means of a threaded coupling member G fixed to the shaft 5 as by a set screw 7, it being understood that the usual winding element which has threaded connection with the alarm winding is removed and the coupling 6 substituted therefor'. The casing 4 is shown'as provided with a pair of segmental contacts 9 and l spaced by an insulating portion 11. The shaft has fixed thereon a switch arm 12, this arm as shown being provided with a hub portion 13 secured to an insulating sleeve 150 surrounding the shaft 5 as by means of a set screw 14, the sleeve 150 being secured to the shaft as by means of a pin 151. Bearing on the outer face of the hub portion 13 is a conductor strip 15 which is pressed thereagainst by a coil spring 16 sur- 1930. Serial No. 451,001.

rounding the shaft and reacting against the inner rface of the casing. This conductor strip is secured to a terminal post 17 as by means of a screw 13, this terminal post 17 having a wire binding screw 19 to receive a wire 2l) in the electric circuit to be controlled by the switcli. The opposite terminal for conne@ m to the wire 22 is carried by a shaft 23 journaled in the casing and having fixed thereon a contact arm 24 which also may be engaged with either of the contacts 9 and 10 at will by rocking the sha-ft 23 as by turning the terminal post 21. The casing has adjustably fixed thereto a bracket member shown detached in Figure 2. As shown best in this figure, this member is provided with a slot 31 and side flanges 32. The side flanges may engage on opposite sides of the casing 4 and the bracket may be adjustably secured to the casingr as by means of a screw 33 passing through'the slot 31 and threading into the vswitch casing. This bracket has a slotted foot 35 which may be engaged on opposite sides of the setting stem 3 of the alarm clock and clamped against the rear face 36 of the clock by screwing the knob 37 on the setting stem thereagainst. This slotted construction of two arms of the bracket 30 permits the switch to be secured to any of a considerable number of makes of alarm clocks where the spacing between the alarm stem and another stem, such as the clock setting stem, may vary. To the outer end of the shaft 5 is shown fixed a knob 40 by which it may be turned. Stops inthe form of pins 41 are shown to limit the rocking motion of the arm 12 and other stops as at 42 may be employedto limit the rocking motion of the arm 24.

The alarm stem is preferably wound somewhat before the switch is applied and the knob 4() `is turned in winding direction as far as permitted by the stop so that when the alarm rings the switch arm 12 will be thrown in the other direction as far as permitted by the other stop 41. Some clocks are arranged to windl in one direction and some in the reverse direction. The present construction, however, is adaptable to either `3 and it is desired to close the switch when the alarmgoes off, the switch arm 24 will then be turned into engagement with the switch contactv 9 and the switch contact 12 will be turned into engagement with the contact 10 which motion also winds the alarm. It will be noted that Vbefore the 'alarm kgoes oil, the switch arm 12 engages the contact 10 while the .switch arm 24 engages the contact 9. The switch is therefore in open position. When the alarm goes oil the switch arm 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow into engagement with the contact 9 as far as vit is permitted by the stoppin 4l. This action closes the switch.

Supposing, on the other hand, that it is desired te open the switch at a designated time, the clock having the same direction of'winding of the alarm stem as before. The position of the parts is then as shown 'inl Figure 4.V The arm 24 is turned to engage the contact 10 so that before the alarm goes oli, the switch is closed through the arm 24, the contact 10 and the arm 12. I'Vhen the alarm goes oil the switch arm 12 is swung in the direction of the arrow out of engagement with the contact' 10 which breaks the circuit and intoengagement with the contact). Where the winding direction of the alarm stem is opposite to that shown, the setting oi the switch arm 24 in the, position shownat 3 will cause the switch to be opened when the alarm goes off, since the switch Aarm 12 will swing from engagement with the contact 9k into engagement with the contactV 10, while when the armf24 is set into Vengagement withy the contact 10, as

shownin Figure 4, the switch will be closed when the alarm goes off, the arm 12 being swung from engagement with'the contact 9 into engagement with the contact 1 0. Y

An embodiment'oi` this invention having thus been described, it should be evident to those skilled in thepart that various changes and modications might be made therein without departing from the spirit orscope oi this'invention as dened by the appended l Y Y claims. I claim:`

' 1. Incombination with .an alarm clock having an alarm windingstem and another stem, aA switch having Va shaftattachable to said alarm-winding stem, and a supporting element Vfor said switch securableto said other stem. i

2. In combination, an alarm havingan Yalarm winding stem and a clock setting stem, a switch having a shaft attachable to said. alarm winding stem, and a supportin element Y'for said switch securable to saiVV setting stem. 1

3. In combination withan alarm clock axial alinement therewith, means on saidV element :tor turning said shaft to thereby wind said stem, apair of spaced contacts, an arm iXed to said shaft, and movable by turning of said shaft from one kto the other ,of said contacts, stops fork limiting therocking of said shaft in opposite directions, an

element fixed to said casing and securable to said Votherstem for 'supporting said casing nonrotatably, Va second shaft in said casing, an arm on saidsecond shaft movable on rocking of said second shaft from one to the Vother of said contacts, and a wire ter# minal in electrical connection with each of said arms. A

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature.

f vEVERE'IT E. STONE.

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